Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-10-29
SPECIMEN or stARKs' POLICY.

monumental demagoe who presides
over the general land Office at Washing.
ton will have some things to answer for
at the final reckoning Of the great here
after which will surpass the minor Of
lenses Of ordinary criminals. Here is
one resultof Commissioner Sparks bar
baric management Of his Office:
Three years ago Mary E. Ballard, a
widow having two little boys to support,
filed a premption d~eclaratory statement
for the northeast quarter Of section %,
township 108, range 68(Huron, D. T.,
land distsict) and Immediately establish
ed her residence thereon. She was poor
and worked for others to obtain the nee
essarles of life and make Improvements
on her claim. A part Of the time she
worked in hotel at Woonsocket, thirty
miles distant, and walked to and from
her land, often making the trip when
the weather was freezing cold. During
her absence at Woonsocket the little
boys were left with some Of her kind
hearted neighbors. Toward the latter
part of her second winter on the claim
her supply Of fuel (hay) being exhausted,
she went to her nearest neighbours for
warmth, where she remained about two
weeks. In the summer following she
made proof, end then, broken in health
by her exertions to hold and improve
her land, she took a few weeks rest be-
fore attempting to do more. The proof
was accepted by the local land Office
and the receipt issued. But Sparks
"held up''the proof and called for further
evidence Of "good faith" As would be
supposed the widow was heart-sick and
discouraged; but friends focked TO her
assistance, and afidavits were semitic
the commissioner till her story was laid
before him in full. The only reply to
this was an order ~canceling the entry
and forfeiting the widows 500 that she
had paid for the land. This was the re-
suit of the widows efforts to make her
self a home on the free land of Dakota
Her friends had the ~ appealed to
the secretary, but hardship, exposure
and announcement had broken hel
health, and after a lingering illness she
died. Now, too late, the commissioner
order Is reversed, and the widows proc
is declared satisfactory.
Here is the way the Bourbon sheet O
the northwest the st. Paul Globes
supporting the lnstigator and perpetra'
tor of a policy that does not stop shor
of being medically if not directly th'
cause of such crimes as is above re-
corded:
Commissioner Sparks was not lon(
in Office before the evidence OF fraud
ulent entries and timber culture depre
dations became apparent at every turn
and on every baud. The enormity o.
the crimes which were beng %perpetrat
ed not only astoulshed the new com
missioner, but they angered him and
made his blood fairly boil with right
eous indignation. He struck at the
robbers right and left. He clave then
to the middle and his blade entered
every weak joint of their carcass.
They incurred, groaned, cursed, swore
gritted and CRASHED their teeth at him
IN impotent rage. But, backed by
president with an adamantine backbone
he pursued them every step. That they
hated him is true; that they tried t
officially cruelty him is but natural
that they assaulted his character and
reputation is as might have been ex
pected. There is a possibility Of hi
Official demise. 1t is possible that he
will soon cease to be commissioner 0
the general land Office. There is {
probability that the end o: his official ca
reer is near at hand. Honest men vii
regret it, even though they differ witt
Mr.Sparks in much of his policy, fol
they know he is honest and incorrup'
tible.
Bill Sparks stands accused before the
people Of Dakota as the murderer o
Mary Ballard. This is but one of tn
black and damnable outrages that HI
has been guilty of and that he must an
swer for before his Maker, and that thu
aiders and abetters of his contemplate
policy must answer for before the PEG
pleof the United States.